Old Hickory's War: Andrew Jackson and the Quest for Empire

The authors use the defeat of the Creek and Seminole Indians and the U.S. acquisition of Spanish Florida between 1814 and 1819 as a case study in the origins of Manifest Destiny. The central figure here is General Andrew Jackson, whose personal ambition and imperial vision raised local hostilities to the level of national issues. The Heidlers tell a complex, ugly story of battles and betrayals, cross-purposes and misunderstanding, and they merit praise for their clear narrative of this unfamiliar episode in U.S. history. Their comprehensive research shows that, even at this early stage, neither Indians nor Europeans belonged in America's future-neither for Andrew Jackson nor for the young, not-too-scrupulous republic he represented and in many ways epitomized. The Heidlers teach history; David wrote Pulling the Temple Down. Photos. (Apr.)